Stolen Winston Churchill Portrait Recovered in Italy

The iconic 1941 photograph by Yousuf Karsh, stolen from an Ottawa hotel, was found in the possession of an unsuspecting buyer.

The portrait, known as 'The Roaring Lion,' was stolen from the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa between December 2021 and January 2022 and replaced with a forgery.
Jeffrey Wood, 43, has been charged with theft, forgery, and trafficking in stolen property; he is currently out on bail with GPS monitoring.
Italian lawyer Nicola Cassinelli unknowingly purchased the stolen portrait at a Sotheby's auction in May 2022 for approximately $6,600 USD.
Ottawa police tracked down the stolen artwork through forensic analysis, public tips, and international cooperation, confirming its authenticity in January 2023.
The portrait will be formally returned to Canadian authorities at a ceremony in Rome next week before being displayed again at the Fairmont Château Laurier.